Giving children a chance at the future is HPU’s goal
in partnering with a national education program that encourages
early awareness of college by matching local schools with university
mentors.

More than 100 sophomores from Castle
High School poured onto Fort Street Mall Feb. 11 as part of
The Century Program, sponsored by the Foundation for Excellent
Schools
(FES). “Many of these students come from homes where the
parents never graduated from high school,” said Brian Okano,
a health, guidance, and P.E. teacher at Castle. “It’s
a great opportunity for the students to see a real college-life
experience.”

The Century Program (TCP) is a national initiative that partners
with school and colleges nationwide. Participating schools
identify underserved students– “TCP Scholars”–who
participate in activities to improve academic performance and
attendance, develop personal and academic goals, and increase
high school graduation and college-bound rates.

“
We have some disadvantaged students that otherwise would not
go to college, but because of FES, we are able to give them more
opportunities,” said Kelly Walton, a language arts teacher
at Castle. “Even though they’re only sophomores now,
the program will take them all the way through their senior year,” Walton
added.

“
I’m hoping through the tour, the students will see how
important English, science, and social studies are, all the subjects
they are taking now, and they will go back to the classroom realizing
they do need to learn those subjects,” said Walton. “Hopefully
that will inspire them to do much better.”

HPU also partners with Kailua High and Intermediate Schools,
Kapaa High School and Waimanalo Elementary/Intermediate.